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Phrasebook

What does this Python word or symbol mean? Search any of them.

Saying things out loud

How Python shows you what it knows, and asks you for input.

print(...)print

Asks Python to show whatever is inside the brackets, each call on its own line.

Like calling out at Auntie Ama's stand — print shouts words from inside the computer out where everyone can read them.

When to use

Any time you want to see something: a greeting, a number, the value of a variable, the answer to a sum.

print("Akwaaba, Ghana!")

→ Akwaaba, Ghana!

name = "Ama"
print(name)

→ Ama

input(...)input

Pauses the programme and waits for the person to type something, then hands that text back as a value.

Like asking a customer their name before serving them — Python waits politely until they answer.

When to use

When you want the programme to react to what someone types — a name, an amount, a choice.

name = input("What is your name? ")
print("Akwaaba, " + name)

Notes to yourself

Lines Python ignores so you can leave hints for the next reader.

#Comment

Everything after a # on a line is a note for humans — Python skips it completely.

Like a side-note pinned next to a recipe at Auntie Ama's. The cook reads it; the kenkey doesn't care.

When to use

To remind yourself what a line does, or to temporarily turn off a line of code without deleting it.

# This line is just a note
print("Hello")  # also a note

→ Hello

Storing things

Names that remember a value, like jars with labels on them.

=Assignment (one equals sign)

Stores the value on the right inside the name on the left.

Like writing 'KENKEY JAR' on a jar so you remember what's inside. The jar is the name, the value is what's in it.

When to use

Whenever you want to remember a value so you can use it later by name. ONE equals sign stores; TWO equals signs (==) asks a question.

price = 3
name = "Auntie Ama"
print(price, name)

→ 3 Auntie Ama

nameVariable names

A name you choose for a value. Use letters, numbers, and underscores — never start with a number or use spaces.

Choose names that say what they mean. shop_name is friendlier than s1 — six months from now, only one of them tells you what's inside.

When to use

Every time you store something with =. Pick a name a friend reading the code could understand.

shop_name = "Auntie Ama's"
prices_today = [3, 5, 2]
print(shop_name, prices_today)

→ Auntie Ama's [3, 5, 2]

Numbers and maths

How Python does arithmetic — same maths you know, with a few new symbols.

+Plus

Adds two numbers together. Also glues two pieces of text together.

Numbers behave like maths class. Text behaves like sticking two cards side by side — "Akwaaba, " + "Ama" makes "Akwaaba, Ama".

When to use

For adding prices, combining counts, or joining two strings into one.

print(3 + 5)

→ 8

print("Akwaaba, " + "Ama")

→ Akwaaba, Ama

-Minus

Subtracts one number from another.

Like calculating change. Customer pays 5, kenkey costs 3 — change is 5 minus 3.

When to use

Any subtraction. Also turns a number negative: -3.

change = 5 - 3
print(change)

→ 2

*Times (asterisk)

Multiplies two numbers. Also repeats a piece of text.

Three groups of four kenkey balls is 3 * 4 = 12. And "ha" * 3 gives you "hahaha".

When to use

Any multiplication. Repeating a string a fixed number of times is a fun side-effect.

print(3 * 4)

→ 12

print("-" * 20)

→ --------------------

/Divide

Divides one number by another. Always gives back a decimal answer — even 10 / 2 becomes 5.0.

Sharing 10 kenkey among 4 friends — each gets 2.5. Python is honest about the half.

When to use

Any division. Use // (double slash) if you want only the whole part of the answer.

print(10 / 4)

→ 2.5

print(10 // 4)

→ 2

%Remainder (modulo)

The leftover when you divide. 10 % 3 is 1, because 3 goes into 10 three times with 1 left over.

If 10 kenkey go to 3 people equally, each gets 3 and 1 is left over. That 1 is the remainder.

When to use

To check if a number is even (n % 2 == 0), or to wrap around a list, or for any kind of "leftover" question.

print(10 % 3)

→ 1

if 14 % 2 == 0:
    print("even")

→ even

**Power (to the power of)

Raises a number to a power. 2 ** 3 means 2 × 2 × 2.

Three days, three batches each day, three balls each batch — 3 ** 3 is 27 balls.

When to use

Squares, cubes, or any 'to the power of' calculation.

print(2 ** 3)

→ 8

int(...)int — to whole number

Converts text or a decimal into a whole number. Strips off any decimal part.

input() always gives you text — so if you typed 5, Python sees the WORD "5". int("5") turns it into the NUMBER 5 you can add.

When to use

Right after input(), almost every time. Or to chop the decimal part off a price.

age = int("12")
print(age + 1)

→ 13

print(int(3.9))

→ 3

float(...)float — to decimal number

Converts text or a whole number into a decimal number (a number with a dot in it).

Prices like GH₵3.50 need decimals. float("3.50") gives you 3.5 you can do maths with.

When to use

Whenever the value has a decimal point, especially money.

price = float("3.50")
print(price * 2)

→ 7.0

round(...)round

Rounds a decimal to the nearest whole number, or to however many decimal places you choose.

If change comes to GH₵2.45678, round(change, 2) gives you GH₵2.46 — clean enough to hand over.

When to use

Cleaning up decimal answers before showing them, especially money.

print(round(3.6))

→ 4

print(round(2.34567, 2))

→ 2.35

len(...)len — length

Tells you how many things are in something — letters in a word, items in a list, key-value pairs in a dict.

How many balls in this basket? How many letters in "Akwaaba"? len asks Python to count.

When to use

Whenever you want a count: list size, string length, dictionary size.

print(len("Akwaaba"))

→ 7

menu = ["kenkey", "sobolo", "waakye"]
print(len(menu))

→ 3

Words and text

How Python handles text — anything you'd say out loud or write.

"..."Quotes (a string)

Anything between matching quotes is a piece of text, called a string. Use " " or ' '.

Like the speech marks in an English exercise book — what's inside is the words being spoken.

When to use

Whenever you have text: names, sentences, item names. Pick double or single quotes; just match the start and end.

greeting = "Akwaaba!"
name = 'Ama'
print(greeting, name)

→ Akwaaba! Ama

f"...{var}..."f-string (formatted string)

A magic quote that lets you drop variables straight into your sentence using curly brackets.

The little f turns the quote into a fill-in-the-blank. Wherever you write {name}, Python slots in the value of name.

When to use

Whenever you want to mix words and variables into one sentence. Easier than gluing strings with +.

name = "Ama"
print(f"Akwaaba, {name}!")

→ Akwaaba, Ama!

price = 3
print(f"That'll be GH\u20b5{price} please.")

→ That'll be GH₵3 please.

{name}Curly brackets inside an f-string

When you're inside an f-string, {name} means "put the value of the variable named 'name' right here".

Like leaving a blank space on a customer's order slip and writing in the name when it's their turn.

When to use

Only inside an f-string (the kind that starts with f"). Anywhere else, { } means dictionary.

item = "kenkey"
count = 3
print(f"You ordered {count} {item}.")

→ You ordered 3 kenkey.

\n\n — newline

Inside a string, \n means "break to a new line right here".

Like pressing Enter while writing — but baked into the middle of a single sentence.

When to use

When you want one print to produce more than one line, or to space output.

print("Menu:\nKenkey\nSobolo")

→ Menu:
Kenkey
Sobolo

+ (on strings)Glueing strings with +

When + sits between two strings, it joins them end to end.

Like sticking two cards together. "Auntie " + "Ama" becomes "Auntie Ama".

When to use

For simple text joins. For mixing in numbers, f-strings are usually cleaner.

greeting = "Akwaaba, " + "Kofi"
print(greeting)

→ Akwaaba, Kofi

str(...)str — to text

Turns whatever's inside the brackets into text. Most often used to glue numbers into a sentence with +.

If you try to glue a number to a sentence with +, Python complains: 'I don't add kenkey balls to words.' str(...) wraps the number in words first.

When to use

Whenever you need a number to behave like text — especially when mixing types in print or +.

count = 3
print("You bought " + str(count) + " kenkey.")

→ You bought 3 kenkey.

.upper() / .lower().upper() and .lower()

Asks a string to give back a shouting (UPPER) or whispering (lower) version of itself.

Useful when comparing names — "Ama" and "ama" look different to Python until you lower them both.

When to use

Cleaning up text from input(), matching answers, or making something stand out in output.

name = "kofi"
print(name.upper())

→ KOFI

Yes/no questions

Asking Python whether two things compare, and combining answers.

==Equals (compare)

Asks a yes/no question: are these two things the same?

One = sets a value. TWO == asks a question. Mix them up and you'll either store the wrong thing or get a strange answer.

When to use

Inside an if, while, or anywhere you want True or False back from a comparison.

if 3 == 3:
    print("same")

→ same

!=Not equal

Asks: are these two things DIFFERENT?

The ! means 'not'. So != means 'not equal'. Read it out loud as "not equals".

When to use

When you want to do something only if two values are different.

if 3 != 4:
    print("different")

→ different

>Greater than

Asks: is the first number bigger than the second?

The wide side of the arrow always faces the bigger number — 5 > 3 reads "5 is bigger than 3".

When to use

Comparing amounts, ages, prices. Often inside if.

if 5 > 3:
    print("5 is bigger")

→ 5 is bigger

<Less than

Asks: is the first number smaller than the second?

Opposite of >. 3 < 5 reads "3 is smaller than 5".

When to use

Comparing amounts where smaller matters: not enough money, low rainfall, child age.

money = 2
price = 3
if money < price:
    print("not enough")

→ not enough

>=Greater or equal

Asks: is the first number bigger than the second, OR exactly the same?

5 >= 5 is True. 5 >= 3 is True. 3 >= 5 is False. The line under > means 'or equal'.

When to use

When 'enough' is fine. Customer has enough money? money >= price.

if 5 >= 5:
    print("plenty")

→ plenty

<=Less or equal

Asks: is the first number smaller than the second, OR exactly the same?

Same family as <. 3 <= 5 is True. 5 <= 5 is True.

When to use

When 'no more than' is the rule. Age <= 14? Then this lesson is for them.

age = 14
if age <= 14:
    print("Stage 3 student")

→ Stage 3 student

andand

Combines two yes/no questions. The whole answer is yes only if BOTH parts are yes.

To order kelewele AND sobolo, BOTH must be in stock. If sobolo is finished, the order fails.

When to use

When two conditions both have to be true.

money = 10
open_shop = True
if money >= 5 and open_shop:
    print("order placed")

→ order placed

oror

Combines two yes/no questions. The whole answer is yes if EITHER (or both) is yes.

Pay with cash OR MoMo — either is fine. Python is happy if at least one is yes.

When to use

When EITHER condition being true is enough.

day = "Sunday"
if day == "Saturday" or day == "Sunday":
    print("weekend")

→ weekend

notnot

Flips a yes/no answer. not True becomes False; not False becomes True.

Like answering a question the opposite way. 'Are you tired?' not tired → True if NOT tired.

When to use

When you want to act on the FALSE case without inverting the question. if not finished: keep_going().

open_shop = False
if not open_shop:
    print("closed today")

→ closed today

True / FalseTrue and False

Python's two special words for yes and no. They MUST start with a capital letter.

These two words run if-statements and loops behind the scenes. Every comparison ends in one of them.

When to use

As flags (is_open = True), as the result of comparisons, and inside if/while.

print(3 == 3)
print(3 == 4)

→ True
False

NoneNone

Python's word for "nothing yet". Different from 0, different from "" — it really is no value at all.

Like leaving the price tag blank — there's a tag, but nothing's written on it.

When to use

As a placeholder until a real value is ready, or as the value functions return when they don't return anything.

winner = None
print(winner)

→ None

Making choices

Doing one thing OR another, depending on the answer to a question.

ifif

Asks a question. The indented lines below run only when the answer is True.

If it rains, take the umbrella. Otherwise, leave it. Python reads the question, decides, and acts.

When to use

Whenever something should happen only in certain cases.

money = 5
if money >= 3:
    print("Enjoy your kenkey!")

→ Enjoy your kenkey!

elifelif (else if)

Used after an if to check another question only if the previous ones were False.

Read it as 'or else, maybe…'. Python tries each elif in order and stops at the first True.

When to use

When you have a chain of possibilities — first this, otherwise that, otherwise the third thing.

score = 75
if score >= 90:
    print("A")
elif score >= 70:
    print("B")
else:
    print("keep practising")

→ B

elseelse

Runs ONLY when none of the if / elif questions above were True.

The catch-all. 'If none of the above, then this.'

When to use

Always optional. Use it when you want a fallback for cases your if didn't cover.

money = 1
if money >= 3:
    print("order placed")
else:
    print("not enough")

→ not enough

:Colon

Ends a line that opens a block — like if, for, while, def. The indented lines below belong to that block.

Forget the colon and Python complains it doesn't know where the block starts. It's a tiny mark with a big job.

When to use

At the end of every line that opens an if, elif, else, for, while, def, or class.

if 1 < 2:
    print("yes")

→ yes

(4 spaces)Indentation

Python uses the spaces at the START of a line to know which lines belong together. Each level is 4 spaces.

Like paragraphs in an English essay — the indent tells you what belongs to which section. In Python, the indent isn't just style — it changes meaning.

When to use

Every line inside an if, for, while, def must be pushed in by 4 spaces. Press Tab — Monaco inserts 4 spaces for you.

for stop in ["Nsawam", "Kumasi"]:
    print("Next stop:", stop)

→ Next stop: Nsawam
Next stop: Kumasi

Doing things many times

Repeating a piece of code without writing it out over and over.

for ... infor ... in

Walks through every item in a list (or string, or dict), one at a time, doing the indented lines for each.

Like checking each kenkey ball in a basket one by one. for ball in basket: print(ball).

When to use

When you want to do the same thing to every item in a collection.

for stop in ["Nsawam", "Suhum", "Konongo"]:
    print("Stop:", stop)

→ Stop: Nsawam
Stop: Suhum
Stop: Konongo

range(...)range

Generates a sequence of whole numbers, mostly used with for.

range(5) gives 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 — five numbers, starting at 0. Yes, the end number is NOT included.

When to use

When you want a loop to run a fixed number of times.

for n in range(3):
    print("hello", n)

→ hello 0
hello 1
hello 2

whilewhile

Keeps running the indented block AS LONG AS the question after 'while' is True.

Careful — if the condition never becomes False, the loop runs forever. Make sure something inside the loop eventually flips it.

When to use

When you don't know how many times to loop, but you know when to stop.

n = 0
while n < 3:
    print(n)
    n = n + 1

→ 0
1
2

Holding many things

Lists, dictionaries, and how to reach into them.

[ ]List (square brackets)

A basket of items in order. Items can be anything, separated by commas.

Like the day's menu at Auntie Ama's — kenkey first, then sobolo, then waakye. Order matters.

When to use

Whenever you have several values that belong together: a menu, a list of customers, daily prices.

menu = ["kenkey", "sobolo", "waakye"]
print(menu)

→ ['kenkey', 'sobolo', 'waakye']

{ "k": v }Dictionary (curly brackets)

Pairs each key (like an item name) with a value (like its price). Look things up by key.

Like Auntie Ama's price board. {"kenkey": 3, "sobolo": 2} — say the item, get its price.

When to use

When you need to map names to values. Outside of a dict, { } can also mean f-string placeholders — context matters.

prices = {"kenkey": 3, "sobolo": 2}
print(prices["kenkey"])

→ 3

[0]Indexing (square brackets after a name)

Reaches into a list or string by position. Python counts from 0 — the first item is [0], second is [1].

The kenkey at position 0 is the first one in the basket. Position 1 is the second, and so on.

When to use

Any time you want a specific item, not the whole list.

menu = ["kenkey", "sobolo", "waakye"]
print(menu[0])
print(menu[2])

→ kenkey
waakye

.append(...).append

Adds a new item to the END of an existing list.

Like dropping one more kenkey ball into the basket.

When to use

Building up a list as a programme runs — recording orders, scores, names.

menu = ["kenkey"]
menu.append("sobolo")
print(menu)

→ ['kenkey', 'sobolo']

.items().items()

Asks a dictionary for ALL its key–value pairs at once, so a for loop can walk through them.

Like reading the whole price board out loud — "kenkey, 3. sobolo, 2. waakye, 7."

When to use

Looping over a dictionary when you need BOTH the key and the value.

prices = {"kenkey": 3, "sobolo": 2}
for item, price in prices.items():
    print(item, "costs", price)

→ kenkey costs 3
sobolo costs 2

,Comma

Separates items in a list or dict, arguments to a function call, or things to print on the same line.

Same comma as in English — a pause that says "here comes the next thing".

When to use

Between items in [ ] or { }, between arguments inside ( ), and inside print() to space several values.

print("A", "B", "C")

→ A B C

.Dot (method or attribute)

Reaches inside an object to use one of its built-in helpers (methods) or its parts (attributes).

name.upper() reads as 'ask name to upper itself'. The dot says "hey value, do something".

When to use

Anywhere a thing has methods: strings (.upper, .split), lists (.append, .sort), dicts (.items, .keys).

word = "akwaaba"
print(word.upper())

→ AKWAABA

[expr for x in items]List comprehension

A short way to build a new list by running an expression over every item of another list.

Read it backwards: 'for each item in items, take this expression and collect them all'.

When to use

When you'd otherwise write a 3-line for loop just to fill a new list.

prices = [3, 5, 2]
doubled = [p * 2 for p in prices]
print(doubled)

→ [6, 10, 4]

Reusable code

Wrapping up a recipe so you can use it again with one name.

defdef — define a function

Starts the definition of a function — a piece of code with a name that you can use over and over.

Like writing a recipe once and naming it 'jollof'. After that, anyone in the kitchen can just say 'jollof' to make it again.

When to use

Whenever you find yourself writing the same kind of code twice. Wrap it in a function instead.

def greet(name):
    print("Akwaaba,", name)

greet("Ama")
greet("Kofi")

→ Akwaaba, Ama
Akwaaba, Kofi

returnreturn

The function's final answer — the value it hands back to whoever called it.

If print is shouting out loud, return is whispering an answer to the caller alone. The caller decides what to do with it.

When to use

Whenever the function should compute a value to be used later — a total, a yes/no, a translated string.

def double(n):
    return n * 2

print(double(5))

→ 10

name(...)Calling brackets

Putting brackets after a function name MAKES IT RUN. Without the brackets, you just have the function itself.

print is the recipe; print() actually cooks it. Whatever you pass between the brackets are the ingredients.

When to use

Every time you actually want a function to DO its job, not just talk about it.

print("with brackets — this runs")
print  # no brackets — just refers to the function

→ with brackets — this runs

def f(x):Parameters

The names listed in a def's brackets. They become variables holding whatever the caller passed in.

On the recipe card, parameters are the placeholders: 'add SUGAR to taste'. When you cook, you decide how much.

When to use

Inside every def whose behaviour should change based on what's passed in.

def can_afford(money, price):
    return money >= price

print(can_afford(5, 3))

→ True

Bringing in tools

Borrowing extra Python that other people already wrote.

importimport

Pulls a toolbox of extra Python into your file so you can use everything inside it.

Like borrowing Auntie Ama's spice rack — you don't grow the spices yourself, you just use them.

When to use

At the very top of your file, once per module. After import math, you can write math.pi, math.sqrt(9), and so on.

import math
print(math.sqrt(16))

→ 4.0

from ... import ...from … import

Pulls just ONE tool out of a toolbox, instead of the whole box.

Borrow only the chilli, not the whole spice rack. You can then say chilli instead of spice_rack.chilli.

When to use

When you need one or two specific names from a module and want to skip typing the module prefix.

from random import randint
print(randint(1, 6))

random.randint(a, b)random.randint

After 'import random', randint(a, b) gives you a random whole number from a to b — both ends included.

Like rolling a die. randint(1, 6) rolls a standard die. randint(1, 49) picks a lotto number.

When to use

Games, simulations, picking a Ghana-themed starter prompt, surprise gifts.

import random
print(random.randint(1, 49))

Files and data (Lesson 7)

Saving information so it survives after you close the studio.

open(...)open — open a file

Asks Python to open a file. Pair with "r" to read or "w" to write.

Like pulling Auntie Ama's order book off the shelf — you have to open it before you can read or write in it.

When to use

Lesson 7. Almost always use it together with 'with' so Python closes the file safely afterwards.

with open("hello.txt", "w") as f:
    f.write("Akwaaba")
with open("hello.txt", "r") as f:
    print(f.read())

→ Akwaaba

with ... as ...with … as …

A safer way to use something that needs cleaning up — like a file. Python closes it automatically when the indented block ends.

Like asking a friend to remind you to put the order book back when you're done. You can't forget.

When to use

Every time you open a file. Skip the 'with' and you might leave files dangling open.

with open("note.txt", "w") as f:
    f.write("Hello!")
# file is closed automatically here

.read() / .write(...).read() and .write()

.read() pulls all the text out of an opened file. .write(text) puts text into one.

Read the whole order book, or scribble a new line into it. Always within a 'with open(...) as f:' block.

When to use

Lesson 7. Saving and loading order lists, scores, notes.

with open("a.txt", "w") as f:
    f.write("line one")
with open("a.txt", "r") as f:
    print(f.read())

→ line one

import jsonimport json

Loads Python's built-in toolbox for saving lists and dicts into files as readable text.

Like translating your order book into a tidy format other apps can also read. JSON is the common language.

When to use

Lesson 7. Whenever you want to save a list/dict and load it back later.

import json
orders = [{"customer": "Ama", "item": "kenkey"}]
print(json.dumps(orders))

→ [{"customer": "Ama", "item": "kenkey"}]

json.dump / json.loadjson.dump and json.load

dump writes a Python value into a file as JSON. load reads JSON back into Python.

Save the day's orders before you sleep (dump). Tomorrow morning, pick them up again (load) to start where you left off.

When to use

Lesson 7 Grand Project. Persisting orders, scores, settings.

import json
with open("d.json", "w") as f:
    json.dump([1, 2, 3], f)
with open("d.json", "r") as f:
    print(json.load(f))

→ [1, 2, 3]

try / excepttry / except

Run risky code inside try. If it explodes, jump to except instead of crashing.

Like opening a stall door that MIGHT be locked. Try it. If it's locked, do something sensible instead.

When to use

Reading files that might not exist yet, parsing input that might be a wrong type, network calls.

try:
    n = int("not a number")
except ValueError:
    print("that wasn't a number")

→ that wasn't a number

Python meets the web (Lesson 8)

Letting Python write HTML that lands inside your Stage 2 webpage.

web_outputweb_output (Bridge zone)

A special variable. Whatever HTML string you put in web_output flows over to your Stage 2 webpage when you press Inject in the Bridge zone.

Like writing a daily summary on a sign and hanging it outside the stand. The web_output variable IS that sign.

When to use

Lesson 8 only — once the Bridge zone is unlocked. Set it to a string of HTML.

web_output = "<h2>Today's Sales</h2><p>Total: GH\u20b5123</p>"
print(web_output)

html_heading(...)html_heading (Bridge helper)

Pre-loaded helper. Wraps your text in an HTML heading so it appears big and bold on your webpage.

A signboard. Big letters. "AUNTIE AMA'S SUMMARY" at the top of your page.

When to use

Lesson 8. Inside the Bridge zone, where the helpers are pre-loaded.

# Available in the Bridge zone:
# web_output = html_heading("Today's Sales")

html_table(headers, rows)html_table (Bridge helper)

Pre-loaded helper. Takes a list of column headings and a list of rows, returns an HTML <table>.

Your daily sales board — columns for item, price, sold — all rendered as a clean table on the webpage.

When to use

Lesson 8. Whenever you have rows of data to display.

# Available in the Bridge zone:
# web_output = html_table(["Item", "Price"], [["Kenkey", "GH\u20b53"]])

html_list(items)html_list (Bridge helper)

Pre-loaded helper. Wraps a Python list into an HTML bulleted list.

Like a customer-list pinned to the stall: each name on its own line with a bullet.

When to use

Lesson 8. Showing menus, customer names, anything where bullets help.

# Available in the Bridge zone:
# web_output = html_list(["Kenkey", "Sobolo", "Waakye"])

html_stat(label, value)html_stat (Bridge helper)

Pre-loaded helper. Makes a single big number with a small label below — for showing one important stat.

Like the big total at the bottom of the day's order book — TOTAL: GH₵123 in bold, with 'Today's Sales' beneath.

When to use

Lesson 8. Highlighting one key figure on your webpage.

# Available in the Bridge zone:
# web_output = html_stat("Today's Total", "GH\u20b5123")